How to pack light

1. Do your laundry on the road

Travel-size bottles of laundry detergent are available at most Laundromats and drug stores. Alternatively buy an empty travel bottle and fill with stuff you have at home. Wash your clothes in the sink in your hotel room.

2. Know exactly what you should pack

So many travellers opt to overpack in lieu of forgetting something essential. My advice? Every time you take a trip, make a list! Create an inventory of everything you’ll need for your upcoming vacation, and tick off the items as you place them in your bag.

3. Lose the shoes

The rule of thumb is that travellers should pack no more than two pairs of shoes: one casual pair for walking and everyday use, and one pair for formal occasions. Don’t forget if you are heading to a beach destination, you can probably pick up a pair of flip flops on arrival.

4. wear your bulky items, don't pack them

Jeans, hats, hiking boots and puffy parkas should never be stuffed in a suitcase when they can be worn on the plane.

5. Don't fold your clothes, roll them

Folding creates creases, and it’s not the best way to maximize suitcase space.

6. Weigh your bag before you get to the airport

If you've already arrived at the airport when you discover that your bag exceeds the airline's weight limits for luggage, you have 2 options: Remove some items from your bag or pay the overweight baggage fees which, frankly, can be expensive. Thereby making the most of your suitcase space.

7. Photocopy relevant/interesting pages of a guide

Most guide book publications publish their information online. Why not copy and paste sections into a Word document and, using both sides of the paper, print off any bar, restaurant and route recommendations?

8. Opt for a soft-sided suitcase

A hard case might be better for really fragile items, but for the average holiday, a soft case offers more pockets, expansion opportunities to squeeze in a few more items and still a very high level of durability.